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THE Civil Registry Department says it is on course to clear the passport backlog by next month.
Acquisition of modern printing presses, and other ancillary equipment to clear the backlog, were scuttled by the outbreak of Covid-19.
Registrar-General Henry Machiri said the department was working round the clock to clear the passport backlog.
“We are now working on the backlog and are now doing the 2019 applications.
“We are hopeful that by September this backlog would have been cleared.
“When we talk of 2019, it doesn’t mean that we have a backlog for 2020 and 2021.
“Those are the two years under Covid-19 whereby we were not issuing passports, but just dealing with emergencies.
“Our passport backlog is up to the last half of 2019.”
Machiri said the department had so far produced more than 140 000 e-passports since January.
“The department’s ultimate goal is to be as close to citizens as possible.
“Since the time the new e-passport was launched, we have done more than 140 000 passports.”
He said the old type machine-readable passports will be valid for their full lifespan of 10 years for adults.
“We are continuing with the old system for those applied for in 2019, but let me assure the nation that those passports are still valid worldwide to be used for 10 years,” he said.
“So, people should not worry if they receive the old machine-readable passports. They can visit any country with confidence.”
Online Reporter